The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE traded higher by over 200 points during the mid-afternoon session, while the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded firm above the 10,100 level.

According to market observers, healthy buying in index heavyweights like Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj-Auto, Tata Steel, and Larsen and Toubro lifted the benchmark indices.

Around 1.40 p.m., the BSE Sensex, which opened at 32,615.05 points, traded at 32,813.30 points — up 216.12 points or 0.66 per cent — from its previous close.

The Sensex touched a high of 32,856.09 points and a low of 32,598.12 during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish — 1,776 advances and 802 declines.

On the NSE market breadth, the Nifty50 traded higher by 75.80 points or 0.75 per cent at 10,119.90 points.

On Wednesday, the key indices were dragged lower by interest-rate sensitive stocks like banking, metals and capital goods.

The NSE Nifty50 fell by 74.15 points or 0.73 per cent to close at 10,044.10 points, while the Sensex at 32,597.18 points — down 205.26 points or 0.63 per cent.